Biopsychology: Lesson 6 - Localisation Of Function Flashcards
What is localisation of function?
The principle that functions (language, memory hearing etc.) have specific locations within the brain
Where is the visual cortex located?
In the occipital lobe of BOTH hemispheres of the brain
How does visual processing work?
- starts in the retina where light enters and strikes the photoreceptors
- nerve impulses from the retina are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve
- the majority terminate in the thalamus, which acts as a relay station, passing the information onto the visual cortex
Where is the auditory cortex located?
In the temporal lobe of both hemispheres of the brain
How does the auditory pathway work?
- starts in the cochlea in the inner ear, where sound waves are converted to nerve impulses
- these nerve impulses travel via the auditory nerve to the cortex.
- basic deciding occurs in the brain stem, the thalamus carries out further processing before impulses reach the auditory cortex
Where is the motor cortex located?
In the frontal lobe of both hemispheres of the brain
What is the role of the motor cortex?
- the generation of voluntary motor movements
- different parts of the motor cortex control different parts of the body
- these areas are arranged logically next to one another
- damage to this area can caste a loss of muscle function/paralysis in one or both sides of the body (depending in which hemisphere(s) have been effected
Where is the somatosensory cortex located?
In the parietal lobe of both hemispheres of the brain
What is the role of the somatosensory cortex?
- to detect sensory events arising from different regions of the body
- produces sensations of touch pressure, pain and temperature using information from the skin, which it then localises to specific parts of the body
What are the two language centres?
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
Where is Broca’s area located?
In the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe
How was Broca’s area discovered?
Paul Broca treated patients who had difficulty producing speech
- he found that they had lesions to the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe
What does damage to the Broca’s area cause?
Expressive aphasia
What is expressive aphasia?
Language and speech problems
Affects language production
Doesn’t affect understanding
Speech lacks fluency and patients have difficulty with certain words which helps sentences function (e.g. ‘it’ and ‘the’)
Where is the Wernicke’s area located?
In the left hemisphere of the temporal lobe
